Abstract The preliminary meeting for the first joint-working conference of directors from all the overseas Chinese research institutes in China and International Overseas Chinese Research Union Center was convened in November 1998. The participants had a common desire to establish an international overseas Chinese research institution cooperation organization, and collaborate in scientific research and information exchange. They devoted much attention to the proposal of building an International Overseas Chinese Research Union web site.

        The web site will increase the cohesion of the overseas Chinese, improve overseas Chinese's social status in the world, and allow frequent contact among overseas Chinese research institutes, overseas organizations, cultural organizations, and commercial institutions.

         The name of the web site will be Jia Yuan (Homeland). The site encourages all the members to participate in its establishment and development thereby benefiting all. The Overseas Chinese Research Institute at Jinan University in China has committed to undertake the task of building the site.

         The homepage of the web site will contain the following contents: a brief introduction to the International Overseas Chinese Research Union; hot topics in overseas Chinese society; a database for overseas Chinese research; a retrieval system for global overseas Chinese research institutes and experts; an electronic magazine of "Developments of Global Overseas Chinese Research?and links to related web sites.

        The web site will allow overseas Chinese groups, companies, or individuals to register as members without any charge. All members can share information from the online magazine "Sight of Global Overseas Chinese Society?through email every week or month and from another online journal "Developments of Global Overseas Chinese Research?every month or quarter.

        The database on the web site will allow members to search research by famous overseas Chinese around the world in science, technology, politics and business. It will also provide some services, such as helping overseas Chinese to find their relatives, being informed with information concerning policy and investment.